The room was quiet, save for the ticking of the old grandfather clock. Fear clung to the air, a palpable entity wrapping around her like a shroud. She was draped over the bed, the soft pillows offering little comfort. Her hands clutched the bedspread, knuckles white as bone. Her heart pounded in her chest, a wild drum echoing the rhythm of dread that filled her thoughts.

Her mother and father stood sternly at her side, disappointment etched across their faces. The belt rested heavily on her backside, a harsh reminder of the punishment to come. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the first strike.

The first crack of the belt against her bare skin made her body jolt. She bit down on her lip, stifling the cry that threatened to escape. She didn't want to give them the satisfaction of her pain.

Anger welled up within her as the belt struck again. She was angry at herself for letting her grades slip, angry at her parents for their harsh punishment, angry at the world for being so unfair.

Panic seized her as the pain intensified. She wasn't sure if she could endure it. Every strike felt like a burn, a stinging reminder of her failure.

The sound of her heartbeat drowned out the ticking of the clock, each throb mimicking the sting of the belt. Her breath hitched in her chest as she waited for the next strike, her body tensed in anticipation. But as the minutes passed, she realized it wasn't coming.

Slowly, she unclenched her fists, releasing the bedspread. Her parents' stern expressions softened, replaced with a strange mixture of disappointment and relief. They turned away from her, the belt discarded on the floor. It was over.

She stood, pulling up her knickers and straightening her nightgown. Her bottom throbbed, a constant reminder of her failure. She moved to the corner of the room, her back to her parents, holding up her nightgown as she waited for them to tell her to go to bed.

The silence stretched on, only broken by the occasional tick of the clock. She didn't dare to turn around, didn't dare to face her parents. But amidst the pain and humiliation, she felt a strange sense of relief. It was done. She had faced her punishment, and she was still standing.

The night seemed to drag on, the moon casting long shadows across the room. She remained in the corner, her thoughts racing. She vowed to herself that she would do better, would be better. She would not find herself in this position again. And with that thought, she was finally allowed to go to bed.